i don't know if things will ever go back to normal. not that we ever had any semblance of normal anyway. i feel weak and emotionally exhausted. i need a few days to sort things out. i wish i had the money to go somewhere, do something, but i have nothing, as usual.

it's hard to say goodbye to you. i look at you as you sleep and i'm filled with regret over what happened. i'm sorry. i'm so sorry. i love you. but i must do something to fix this situation. maybe if we had our own places this would be better. it would feel better. i want to say nothing but positive things about you. i want us to feel happy. yet ( Read more... )

i think that the side you show me
is a lie.
i think what i adore
and fell in love with
is your lie.

your absence
brings your presence
into such sharp focus

i realize
while i doubt myself
you never doubt me
you relentlessly believe in my
highness
my ability to achieve
to persevere

i'm not going to sit here and pretend as though any of this is easy for me to write. as though i have any of this figured out or am certain of what move i should make next ( Read more... )

we project our ideals onto one another. my ideal man would work hard, but not at what he's doing. his woman would be smart, but not book smart. am i caught up in a dream? a dream that has always been part nightmare ( Read more... )

i need to ( Read more... )

I asked my delegate the following questions to get a glimpse in what it is like for him to be a representative in the West Virginia legislature.

What is the most difficult part of being a delegate?

Knowing you could make someone mad. You can't make everyone happy, of course. Also, balancing all aspects of life, family, personal life, business.

What ( Read more... )

According to the US Census Bureau, only 14.8% of people in West Virginia age 25 or higher have a Bachelor's degree. The per capita income in West Virginia is $16, 477. The per capita income for the rest of the United States in $5,000 more. By these two statistics, we would expect that a representative in West Virginia would not even have a Bachelor ( Read more... )

the purpose of this paper is to make connections between my experience at the West Virginia legislature with Delegate Doug Skaff and ideas about the nature of representation in state governments. it will include discussion first on the daily life of Doug Skaff as a delegate for his Kanawha County constituents. it will include discussion on what ( Read more... )